Toy of knockdown construction



I 1. A, BELZ. TOY OF KNGCKDOWN CONSRUCTIU APPLICATION mso Amm, 1920.

BGME'M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- JOSEPH A. BELZY, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

TOY OF IKNOCKDOWN CONSTRUCTION.

Application led August G,

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Josnrri A. BnLz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, county of Atlantic, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Toy of Knockdown Construction, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention generally stated relates to toys and has more especial relation to the knockdown type designed to be easily taken apart for the purpose of packing into small compass for transportation or storage.

T he toy comprises, in miniature, a knockdown structure symbolic of the boardwalk at atlantic City depicting both the Ocean and land sides thereof and is of ample proportions so that figures of card-board or the like symbolic of men, women, rolling chairs and other objects may be grouped thereon to resemble the famous Easter parades thus affording to children an educational pastime.

The invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described andv finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my toy boardwalk.

2, is an end view thereof, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are 'fragmentary views illustrating details of construction.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings 10 designates spaced, horizontally disposed, girders, the opposed faces thereof being grooved throughout their extent as at 11 and supported upon a plurality of pillars with caps 13. Each cap is apertured to detachably receive a pillar 12 one end of whichV pillar projects through said cap to form in effect a dowelpin which is adapted to engage an opening Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. e, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 401,790.

in the underside of a girder. It will thus be understood that the girders, pillars and' caps are separable. In practice these parts are preferably constructed of wood although this is not material. Adapted to fit between said girders and tov engage within the grooved portions thereof is a walk 14. In practice the walk is made of card-board and has delineated thereon markings denoting boards. Obviously other materials may be employed to depict a walk of boards. The ocean side of the board walk is provided with a railing consisting of posts=1516 and rails 17, an entrance being present which is designated 18. The posts are horizontally drilled to permit the'rails 17 being passed therethrough and the girders are vertically apertured to receive the posts. Itv will thus be seen that the posts and rails are separable and that the posts are separable from the girders. The posts designated'l are larger' than those designated 15 and detachably support members symbolic of lamp-posts. Each lamp-post comprises an upper and a lower vertical upright designated 19 and 20 respectively, which are connected together by means of a coupling 21 provided with sockets to receive the ends of said uprights. The coupling 21 is horizontally drilled for the passage therethrough of a crossfarm 22. Detachably fitted to the respective ends of the cross-arm and to the upper end of upright 19 are apertured, spherical members 23 symbolic of lamps. An approach for the entrance 18, in the form of a ladder is provided. It consists of a pair of side-pieces 24 apertured to detachably receive rungs 25. The underside of lone of the girders is apertured to accept the upper ends of sidepieces 24.

The land side of the boardwalk may bel provided with any suitable structure as a piece of card-board having depicted thereon, hotels, shops and the like. In the drawings, I have, for illustrative purposes, shown a railing constructed as hereinafter described except for the entrance and lamp-post features.

By the above construction and arrangement of parts it is apparent that the boardwalk may be readily taken apart and rebuilt. This not only affords amusement to children but is instructive as well.

In order to hold a childs attention and prevent discarding of the toy I combine with the boardwalk an amusement feature,

in miniature, symbolic of the famous Japanese rolling ball. To this end I utilize the girders l() and walk 14C and combine therewith certain coperative parts, including balls, to provide said added attraction. At one end of the walk 14 a group of twelve apertures 25 are cut therein each aperture having associated therewith numerals denoting'value. Adapted for detachable connection with the girders l0 is a ball-guide. In practice a member of wire is employed for the purpose and is so shown in drawings.

The Wire is bent to form a pair of parallel sections 26 connected by a loop or bail 27, the free ends of said parallel sections 26 terminating in right-angles, extensions for engaging in openings formed in the tops of the girders l0 and the loop or bail forms a stop and guide for balls rolled over the walk 14. In practice the gaine may be played with the boardwalk assembled, thus 1n effect providinga table, or the walk and girders only may be utilized. The balls, ten in number, are rolled one at a time over the Walk 14, thel object being to negotiate the apertures having the largest value. In playing the game, it is desirable to have a ball impinge against the loop or bail 27 and curl or curve therearound so as to throw the ball toward an aperture and permit same to settle in aperture. In this connection it will be noted that the girders l() alford guides whereby the balls may be directed to the said loop Vor bail.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodimentthereof whichfhas been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the, same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of- `throughout the .length of the boardwalk,

a railing fitted to one of said girders which railing is provided with an entrance, a ladder-like approach connected to a girder opposite said entrance .and parts symbolic of a lamppost and complemental lampbulbs fitted to said railing.

2. A toy as described in claim l characterizedby the member symbolic of boards being provided at one end with a plurality of sockets each designated by a numeric value, a substantially U-shaped member the free ends of which are fitted to said girders and the loop or bail of which extends across the space between said girders and beyond said sockets and a plurality of balls adapted to be rolled along said boards for. seating in said sockets said girders serving as guides for the balls said loop or bail serving to prevent escape of said balls.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

JOSEPH A. BELZ 

